Forum Reveals Ideal Candidate Profile and Hiring Philosophy
Emphasis on Problem-Solving, Autonomy, Curiosity, and Humility
Residency Program Offers Six-Month Training for Non-Majors
"We look at motivation. Whether someone is an AI expert is not important. There are those who majored in physics who have become AI researchers. We even have a former professional poker player."
OpenAI, the operator of the generative AI service ChatGPT, has revealed its ideal candidate profile and hiring philosophy. Joaquin Quinonero Candela, OpenAI's head of hiring, spoke at an online forum in a discussion format on July 25 (Korean time), making the above remarks.
He stated that the talent OpenAI seeks is not necessarily someone with AI expertise, but rather someone who possesses curiosity, the ability to learn quickly, problem-solving skills, and a willingness to embrace new challenges.
The characteristics of OpenAI's ideal candidate, as revealed that day, can be summarized as follows: the ability to solve problems and act autonomously even in uncertain situations, strong execution skills, curiosity, and rapid learning ability. According to Candela, OpenAI needs "people with a mindset to create something out of nothing, who are like explorers constantly learning."
'Humility' was also highlighted as an important virtue. Candela said, "Humility means acknowledging what you do not know and having a willingness to learn, valuing learning and dedication over job titles." He said they want people who help the team grow and succeed together, rather than those who prioritize their own position or title.
He emphasized, "What matters here is not whether you are an AI expert. We have people who majored in physics, and even a former professional poker player," adding, "Ultimately, it's a matter of motivation and will." OpenAI is providing a stepping stone for non-AI majors to start a career in AI research through a six-month 'residency program.'
The attitude of constantly seeking to learn is deeply embedded in Candela's own life. After studying electronic communications engineering in Spain, he worked at Microsoft Research, Facebook, and LinkedIn before joining OpenAI. At OpenAI, he was part of a team that scientifically verifies and responds to the potential risks posed by AI. One day, Candela felt anxious and fearful that he was falling behind technically, and voluntarily applied for an internship to experience hands-on coding again.
Sam Altman, the CEO, offered him a higher leadership position, but instead, Candela said, "I want to contribute to the team and relearn coding without any title." He demonstrated the courage to step away from his position and regain practical skills. After 15 years, he wrote code again, spent three months as an intern being mentored by employees at lower ranks, and participated in developing systems to evaluate new model performance. He also collaborated with the Red Team to identify and test risk factors in AI models. Drawing on that experience, he has now returned to a leadership role and works as the head of hiring.
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